NHS England says pharmacies’ blood pressure checks ‘could save 2,000 lives’ UK news

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Health officials said blood pressure checks available in pharmacies could save 2,000 lives.

All NHS chemists in England will be serving people over the age of 40 from October.

It is estimated that around 3,700 strokes and 2,500 heart attacks could be prevented and about 2,000 lives saved in the next five years with full start-up, according to NHS England.

An estimated 250,000 additional people could receive life-saving treatment for high blood pressure if the blood pressures of about 2.5 million people were checked in pharmacies.

Professor Stephen Boyce, National Medical Director for the NHS, said the tests would lead to “faster detection of fatal cases and faster treatment for patients who need them”.

Photo: Professor Stephen Boyce says checks ‘could save your life’

He added: “Pharmacies are in the heart of communities and so are ideally placed to offer these convenient checks – so if you are concerned about your health please get tested – it could save your life.

“The NHS Long Term Plan aims to eliminate potentially fatal conditions and this action by pharmacy teams will go a long way in helping us achieve our ambitions of saving more lives.”

Pharmacists will be able to provide blood pressure tests to people who are showing symptoms and provide clinical and lifestyle advice.

They will then log the information in a process aimed at speeding access to care by joining services and treatment with GPs and other local services.

As part of the new contract with the NHS, local chemists can also provide services to help smokers quit, by providing advice and care for those who have recently been discharged from hospital.

Community pharmacists are “in an ideal position to deliver this life-saving work,” said Dr. Shahid Ahmed, national medical director for the prevention of cardiovascular disease.

He added: “Cardiovascular disease kills 136,000 people annually and is a major cause of health disparities, with about half of heart attacks and strokes linked to high blood pressure.

“Detecting and controlling high blood pressure is one of the best things we can do to save lives and reduce health disparities.”

Dr Keith Ridge, Chief Medicines Officer for NHS England, said: “Pharmaceutical teams have already played an important role in the NHS COVID vaccination programme, the largest and most successful in the history of the Health Service, and – with this new service rolled out across the world – it will be They have a vital new role in carrying out life-saving blood pressure checks at the heart of our communities.”

John Mengai, director of policy and impact at the British Heart Foundation, described the launch of the project as “a fantastic initiative that will help save lives, prevent heart and circulatory disease, and empower people to make healthier lifestyle choices.”

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